D. Chiang-Schultheiss
English 100: College Writing
CLASSIFICATION AND DIVISION WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Assignment: Using the assigned essays as models for writing in the classification and division
rhetorical mode, write your own essay that takes a single subject, divides it into categories, parts,
varieties, types, methods, or ways (division). Then give examples that will illustrate the categories, parts,
varieties, types, methods, or ways designated. Try to bring your personality into the piece of writing.
First brainstorm as many different subjects as you can think of. So that your essay will be more
interesting to write and to read, next, pick a subject that is original, that “cuts against the grain;” avoid
ordinary subjects. Then begin classifying the different varieties or variations of your subject that exist.
Your essay could try to approach your subject with a humorous bent rather than a serious one, but the
paper still must be in academic essay format. Avoid the “you” pronoun.
Additionally, you must include exactly one outside source and incorporate a paraphrase into your
essay. (The SF Writer will help you in using the MLA parenthetical documentation method and in
formatting the bibliographic information for your source.) You can use that source in a couple ways. For
example, you could use a paraphrase to begin your essay as a point of departure because you may
disagree with the idea, or you want to clarify the statement. Another use of a paraphrase is to lend
support to an idea you have. This use of a paraphrase lends credibility to your own writing.
Finally, you must add a Works Cited page at the end of your essay. You can find an example of this in the
SF Writer. (Since you will have only one source, you must title this page Work Cited. Note the singular
form of it.)
Below are some sample topics in case you cannot think of anything:
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Types of laughs or sneezes
Types of haircuts and what they say about
the person.
Types of kisses, handshakes
Kinds of jobs teenagers usually have
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Classify the type of customers you work with
based on their personalities
Categorize human personalities by the kind of
cars people drive
Kinds of television shows
Preparing the Essay:
 Brainstorm for a while until you come up with at least 10 different topics you potentially could write
on. Submit your best 3 to the discussion board on WebCT by midnight Wednesday.
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Once you have chosen a subject, continue brainstorming as many different categories of that
subject, but decide on what basis you will create these categories. Your amount of categories will
vary depending on your chosen subject, but you should divide your subject up so that you cover all
the categories, being sure to apply the same principle for creating the categories.
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Next, begin classifying items by placing them into these categories (divisions) you just created.
These classified items are your examples that illustrate the categories. You will need to elaborate
on and explain these classified items in most cases. You must have 4-6 categories.
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Create an outline. It will be easier for you if you create a tree chart so that you can visually see
how each of these categories is related to the others. Decide which category you will discuss first
and choose some organized method for explaining these categories. You should know what your
rationale is for choosing the order of your main body paragraphs.
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You need to make some point in your essay beyond breaking your subject down into various
categories. Hence, your thesis needs to indicate specifically what your point is. Once you know the
direction you want to go, start drafting your main body section of the essay and filling in the
specific details.
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Your essay needs to be written in the third person point of view. Using the second person
point of view (you, your, and so forth) will result in a lower than expected grade.
D:\533574933.doc.
D. Chiang-Schultheiss
English 100: College Writing
CLASSIFICATION AND DIVISION WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Organizing and Structuring the Essay:
1. Introductory Paragraph:
 Begin by hooking the reader and engaging her so that she will want to read further. In your
introductory paragraph, move from a few generalizations that clearly establish your subject to
more specific thoughts until you lead your reader to your thesis statement, the very last
sentence.
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This is the paragraph that must clearly establish the subject of your essay and that must identify
the purpose for writing the essay.
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Create a thesis that is one sentence long and that appears in the very last sentence of the
introductory paragraph. A basic thesis will look like this: “Several different kinds of X exist.” Or,
“X can be broken down into several kinds, which include A, B, C, and D.” Notice that the first thesis
sample is general, while the second sample gives a more specific, ordered listing that your main
body paragraphs will adhere to. In either case, your essay will proceed to explain how all these
variations of “X” differ from one another.
2. Main Body section:
 In the main body of your essay, create a paragraph for each of your categories (divisions). In the
form of a topic sentence, be sure the reader clearly knows what category of X you are writing
about. You must have 4-6 categories, which means 4-6 main body paragraphs.
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Consider how to order the main body paragraphs. (See notes above under Preparing the Essay)
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Don't stray from your topic; stay focused.
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You must use transitions between paragraphs to signal that you are writing about a new
category. Your objective is to link the paragraphs together smoothly.
3. Conclusion Paragraph: Your conclusion paragraph should clearly bring the essay to a close. While you
do not need to restate each of the various categories, you might want to reiterate your essay's purpose
that was stated in the introductory paragraph.
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Page length: Your essay must be
between 3 and 5 typed, doublespaced pages. Remember to title your
essay uniquely. Don’t call it the
"Classification and Division Essay" or
"Essay #4".
Audience: academic; assume they’re
not knowledgeable about the subject
you are writing on.
Purpose: to practice the skill of
creating order out of chaos and to
practice paragraph development
skills.
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Writing Mode: expository, illustration,
classification, and division.
POV: The point of view for this essay will be
in the third person, so you will be using the
“he/she/it/they pronouns frequently. You
must consistently maintain this point of
view. Do NOT use 2nd person.
Standard American English (SAE):
Remember, your paper must follow the basic
conventions of standard American written
English (correct mechanics, usage,
grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence
structure, and so forth).